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Thompson Accuses Fox of Bias Against Him

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November 25, 2007 10:18 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports During an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, former Sen. Fred Thompson, R- Tenn., grew testy when shown clips of Fox pundits conservatives Fred Barnes and Charles Krauthammer saying that the former Law and Order actor could not win.

Thompson said such doom and gloom had been a "constant mantra" of Fox News since he got into the race.

He complained about the show's decision to show his poor performance in New Hampshire primary polls and pointed to how he is doing nationally (where some polls have him in second), in South Carolina (where some polls have him "leading or tied for the lead") and in Iowa (where third still puts him numerically ahead of Rudy Giuliani).

"For you to highlight nothing but the negative in terms of these polls and then to put on your own guys who have been predicting for four months, really, that I couldn't do it kind of skews things a little bit," said Thompson. "There is a lot of other opinion out there."

When asked by Wallace if anyone thinks he has run a great campaign, Thompson said, "It's not for me to come here and try to convince you that I've run a great campaign."

He then pointed to praise his policy ideas have received from the conservative National Review magazine.

"I understand the game of build-up and I understand the game of take-down and we all go through it. And I am perfectly willing for you to do that with regard to me as you do the other candidates. You have the right to put in your one side - to put in the Fox side - and I have right to respond to it and thankfully you've given me the opportunity to do that," added Thompson.

Wallace replied to Thompson's answer by saying, "Senator, I'm glad I asked the question because I got a heck of an answer."

November 25, 2007 in Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (34)

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Thank goodness! I am very glad Fred was able to confront this head-on! My friends and I have seen the Fox bias toward Rudy for months. I guess we knew what we were talking about!

If Fred was given the same opportunity on Fox that Rudy has been given, it would be an entirely different ballgame.

Posted by: Oink | Nov 25, 2007 11:10:46 AM

Do you men these people, Thompson included, are actually capable of reading/listening??

Amazing....when did their collective IQ's go from one (1) to two (2) ????

Posted by: RB-Chicago | Nov 25, 2007 11:35:10 AM

Everyone knows that "Nixon dirty trickster/Fox News executive producer" Roger Ailes is using his network to help Rudy Giuliani out as much as possible.
Also, it's hilarious to hear a Repub crying about Fox "News" bias.
Welcome to the club, Freddie! Lol!
Fox "News" is a joke. They make Pravda look legitimate.

Posted by: OxyCon | Nov 25, 2007 11:53:26 AM

Well done Fred Thompson! It's about time. Fox is in the bag for Rudy. It's about time someone pointed out the fact that FNC only points out the negative for Fred.

FNC, with a straight face, played up Fred's performance in New Hampshire when they know full well that Fred is focusing on South Carolina, Iowa and other states. Fred correctly pointed to all of the many endorsements and positive responses to his proposals, and the fact that he is second nationally and leading or doing well in SC, Georgia, IA.

Glad Fred was able to get out there and share some of the positive about his campaign, because Fox News surely will not.

Posted by: kerrhome | Nov 25, 2007 12:02:47 PM

You Thompson fans have to be kidding
or you're just plan lying!
Since he got into the race Fred Thompson
and Mitt Romney, neither of whom has a snoballs chance in hell of winning the general election have gotten Way More
Coverage and done more interviews than
Rudy Guiliani! Thompson has no message except that he is the only, "true Conservative" in the race, whatever that means! He is Pathetic as a candidate, period!

Posted by: Reaganfan714 | Nov 25, 2007 12:09:55 PM

Forget Giuliani, Thompson & Romney, Ron Paul is the only good candidate you Republicans have. I'm a Democrat and if he's the nominee, I'm voting Republican. If Hillary is the Democrat nominee, I'm voting Republican, anyway!

Posted by: kenny | Nov 25, 2007 12:25:23 PM

GREW TESTY? He flat kicked ass!!!!!

Posted by: JOHN JAMES TERRY | Nov 25, 2007 12:29:53 PM

Re Reganfan714

Um you have to be joking! NationalReviewOnline had this to say about Fred and policy:

"It’s obvious why conservatives see something to like in Thompson. He has offered clear, conservative ideas on fixing Social Security, policing immigration, and expanding the military. We encourage the other candidates to follow his lead."

Posted by: kerrhome | Nov 25, 2007 12:34:41 PM

Anyone who watches FOX knows what Fred is saying is right on the money and good for him for calling them on it.

The transition was so obvious that I'm surprised no other competition picked up on it and spoke out but, then of course that would mean defending the only conservative frontrunner that can win the election...we can't have that now can we.

Posted by: Winghunter | Nov 25, 2007 12:54:25 PM

kerrhome: I have not heard any of these
conservative ideas in the debates so far! I have not read the national review
article, but why are his views on Social
Security, Illegal Immigration etc not
more well known?
By the way what is his policy(if any),
regarding the "war on terror"?
It is the candidates responsibility to inform the public of his(her) views, as opposed to asking them to read the national review! Thompson has not gotten his message out, clearly and concisely! That is why he leads, Nowhere in the polls, Not in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina(a tie) or nationally!
By the way the question was whether or not Fox is biased against Thompson and the answer is no! As I stated he and Romney get way more coverage on FNC than
Guiliani!

Posted by: reaganfan714 | Nov 25, 2007 12:56:46 PM

reaganfan714

Perhaps you don't watch TV, haven't seen Thompsons ads? Perhaps you don't have access to the internet? Oh no! You must, you're posting here, in that case why not, ahem, inform yourself? At


Posted by: JOHN JAMES TERRY | Nov 25, 2007 1:18:47 PM

Wow....Foxnews actually did that to one of the so called "Front Runners". Snicker...Snicker... I have laugh at this. Giuliani is bought and paid for by Foxnews, I thought everyone knew that already. Hannity loves him. This bias that Foxnews does isn't new, they have been doing it to quite a few of the other candidates as well. I choose Ron Paul, he is the man for the People and our Constitution. Fox has done the same to Ron Paul as well.

Posted by: Tess, California | Nov 25, 2007 4:16:52 PM

I guess we can discount Thompson as a serious candidate if he has not yet figured out the neocons strategy of bashing of the traditional nonpartisan media in an effort to install their party organs, such as FOX News, as alternative media outlets. This in their attempt to remain in power for generations, as Rove it.

Posted by: Luke | Nov 25, 2007 6:15:57 PM

Chris Wallace,Sean Hannity and fox news are not any more reliable than what you would find with the likes of any sleeze magazine. Anyone that watches and believes anything they see on fox news needs to get a life as fox news is no more than a talking head for neo conservatism.

Posted by: con me not | Nov 25, 2007 6:23:16 PM

Well I certainly dont hold any news reporting agency accountable for demonstraighting what the owners think is right. Giuliani is clearly the only answer to this countries terrible mess. there is certainly enough left winged media out there also. Might be enjoyable to see maybe Thompson a Vice President. Lets face facts beating out the clintons will take unity, and not the current administrations help...

Posted by: wayne | Nov 25, 2007 6:47:28 PM

Yeah, right! Keep trying, Fred! LOL

Posted by: dgfiit | Nov 25, 2007 9:16:25 PM

Thompson and Romney ought to try some
Cheese with their Whine!
Boo Hoo Hoo everybodys picking on me!
Wah Wah Wah! They both sound more like
Hillary Clinton to me!
Oh the boys were piling on! Boo Hoo,
Wah Wah!
If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!

Posted by: reaganfan714 | Nov 25, 2007 11:15:12 PM

Fox[Faux]News,unfair and unbalanced. Dick Cheneys official news channel,enough said!

Posted by: AJ | Nov 26, 2007 1:09:35 AM

As a long time Republican, I have yet to settle on a Republican candidate. As of today, it is NOT Rudy or Hillary for sure!

Posted by: joe | Nov 26, 2007 6:24:27 AM

People who watch Fox News are easily manipulated. They will vote for whoever Fox News tells them to vote for.

Posted by: US Citizen | Nov 26, 2007 9:08:33 AM

not foxnews cnn msnbc,or others,ever tell me who to vote forthey may tell you but not me,,,,,,,,,

Posted by: rick | Nov 26, 2007 9:39:26 AM

I've always been waiting for the "Aliens fathered my baby" stories on Fox News but what I got was the "This Candidate Sucks" story that the so-called liberal media gets blamed for. I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree eh?

Posted by: dk | Nov 26, 2007 9:57:48 AM

I think for this reason alone I will vote for Thompson.

Posted by: Tom | Nov 26, 2007 10:07:45 AM

Reading some of these posts indicates that either more liberals are watching FoxNews, or are watching MSNBC to get the news from what FoxNews is saying. If anyone cares they can easily check on who has been on FoxNews more, an the time spent. At the last count Tancredo had the most. I watched that program with Sen Thompson on Sunday, seemed like sour grapes to me, what did he think, that Wallace was going to soft ball him. Notice he did not answer the last question that he himself asked. I am a news junkie, so I tape CNN an MSNBC in the evening hours, an watch FoxNews. Then I compare them, but what is funny, if you watch Countdown and Abrams, who seem to be obsessed with OReilly. Hannity who I believe is not a card carrying reporter, has done many fund raising events.

Posted by: homjett | Nov 26, 2007 10:31:33 AM

Are there still people out there who watch Fox News and are dumb enough to think they are getting the news instead of the worst kind of propaganda?

Posted by: US Citizen | Nov 26, 2007 11:11:43 AM

Fox’s predictions and polls are meaningless to me. I look at issues, past records and the honor of a candidate. I won’t support a candidate who doesn’t support the Constitution or will attempt to find a way around it. I won’t support a candidate who will remain friends with a known child molester or will forgive violation of immigration laws while taking away my means to defend myself, my property and my freedom. That pretty much eliminates everyone in both major parties except Thompson and Paul.

Posted by: Royce | Nov 26, 2007 11:13:24 AM

This thin skinned MORON will not win with his IDIOT WIFE managing his lame campaign!

Posted by: Woody | Nov 26, 2007 11:37:09 AM

Fox biased?? Shocking!!

Posted by: PatPaulsen | Nov 26, 2007 11:59:37 AM

I still watch Fox and Friends. Now, for propaganda, I listen to Sirius Talk Left. Ed Schultz is pretty good, but the rest of their lineup is typically radical and offensive. NPR is also so far left of center that almost every story has a predictably strong bias and mostly nobody listens nor cares.

Posted by: TexBork | Nov 26, 2007 12:18:13 PM

Must be tough when FAUX NOISE has to pick and choose amongst their republican litter. They have tapped Rudy the Runt, a merciful choice that should make animal fans everywhere happy. Too bad Mike Wallace did not give his runt away so we would not have to suffer Chris's FAUX drool. Could the outing and end of FAUX NOISE be far away???? Film at eleven...

Posted by: daddy | Nov 26, 2007 12:25:18 PM

Gee does this mean that Freddie is picking up his ball and going home? The much heralded "Reagan like" savior turning on his Fox Muse buddies, ah do I hear crying from the Heartland?

Posted by: Sandra Lea | Nov 26, 2007 2:15:45 PM

This guy got free press for months... and that was before he was even in the race! He has only himself to blame if his polling is bad. The guys is barely even campaigning in NH, of course his numbers are bad.

Posted by: Thomas | Nov 26, 2007 2:52:55 PM

I do think that Chris Wallace is biased but not Fox entirely. I guess Wallace wants Guiliani which he is a good choice. However, I do think Thompson will be a much better choice. Hopefully the best man will make it. That is the best man of the Reps. Don't really know of a best man or woman Dem? Don't think there is one in the whole bunch......

Posted by: PM | Nov 26, 2007 3:47:52 PM

Hey Fred, take a good look in the mirror.

Posted by: Chas | Nov 26, 2007 6:11:23 PM

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